Caster



F. C. SUTLIFFE.

` cAsTEn. APPLICATION FILED DEC. 9| 1920.

Jim/'en fr' FRANK C; UTLIFFP..

Patented Feb. 15, 1921.-

understood that in and by PATENT oFFlcE.

FRANK C. SUTLIFFE,

OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

Application led ecembery 9, 1920.

To all whom it may concern.:

Be it known that I7 FRANK C. SUTLIFFE, a

citizen of the United States, and a resident.

of the cit and county of San Francisco, State of alifornia, have made anew and useful invention-sto wit, Improvements in Casters; and I do;hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, concise, and exactdescription ofthe same. l

This invention relates particularly to an improvement in roller casters.

he particular object of this invention relates to a new and novelconstruction of vcasters whereby friction is reduced materially and ar.easy rolling caster provided. Another object of the invention is toprovide an improved construction obtaining all of the usual results ofstandard casterconstruction but at the same time providing a caster thatwill automatically perinit a vertical height adjustment between thewheel and supporting frame. Other objects and advantages will appear asthe description progresses.

In this specification and the annexed drawings, the invention isillustrated in the form considered to be the best, but it is to beunderstood that the invention is not limited to such form, because itmay be embodied in other forms, and it is also to be the claimsfollowing the description, it is desired to cover the invention inwhatsoever form it may be embodied. I In the accompanying one-sheet ofdrawin `igure 1 represents caster constructed with my invention.

Fig. 2 represents a sectional side elevation through Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 represents an end-elevation of the caster Wheel taken throughFig. 2 on the line III-III. I Fig. 4 is a side form of caster. y

Fig. 5 is a'sectional view through Fig. 4 on the line V-V'. l

In detail the construction illustrated in the drawings comprises theframe 1 having parallel depending side extensions 2 and 3 respectivel toformA the usual forked bracket. he upper surface 1 of the frame isprovided with a projecting pintle 4 'for the purpose of engaging asocket on ang device to which a caster is attached.

elevation of a modified i Specification of-Lettersllatent.

bored through the said se `separable members. yball races 17 a sideelevation of a Patented Feb. 15, 1921..

Serial Nc. 429,393.

ring-shaped annulus 5 member is placed around the socket engagn ingmember adjacent the frame 1 and interposed between the frame 1 and thearticle to which the caster is applied, 'so as to permit a swiveling orfree rotary action of caster and frame relative thereto. The arms 5 and6 of the frame 1 are drilled transversely providing an alined openingthrough which ya shaft 7 is placed and the ends thereof of the framememlock the said shaft peened over on the sides bers 2 and 3 to securelyin position.

An inner wheel generally designated. by the numeral 8 comprises a pairof separable shaft engaging members 9 and 10 substantially circular incontour and joined together by the pin 11that cally therethrough. 'Analined opening is arable members, eccentrically, relative to t e centerpin 11 and the transverse shaft 7 is adapted to be passed therethrough.The separable members 9 and 10 are provided with a peripheral slot 14therearound anda wheel or rim annulus 15 of 'substantially the samewidth as the separable members 9 and -10 is m'ounted thereon andprovided with an internal groove 16 substantially intermediate the sidesthereof and in alinement with the circumferential slot rovided about theuitable anti-friction or other appropriate ball or roller bearings areinterposed between the wheel annulus 15 and the separable members 9 and10 and retained in the alined slots 14 and 16 respectively. Thus therolling effect of the outerlwheel annulus 15 is transmitted through theanti-friction bearings to the separable members 9 and 10, the said`outer rim and ball bearings revolving about the inner wheel member 8 asan axle. In Fig. 5 the modification of the inner wheel 8 consists of apair of cap members 20 and 21 formed of a circular plate with the edgethereof turned over to form a peripheral rim and having an annularbushing 22 placed within the faced opened ends of the said members 20and 21 so that a space remains between the respective members forming agroove or runway corresponding with the groove 16. The outer annulus 15is placed around this modified form of wheel member in the usual mannerand is provided with an internal slot around the inner periphery passesconcentrior anti-friction 4 thereof so that anti-friction members may beinterposed between said outer annulus and inner wheel member andretained in 'companion grooves formed therein.

An object of my construction permits the overcomlng of the inherentfaulty construction embodied in any of the usual types of caster wheels.The wheel lof an ordinary caster that strikes an obstruction is stoppedfrom rota-ting and assumes a skidding effect if the forward movementcontinues. The outer rim annulus of my device operates in the samemanner as the usual caster wheel, the outer annulus revolving aroundthe`I inner wheel 8 corresponding with a shaft. Where an obstruction isencountered .by the outer annulus of my caster, the same is stopped fromrotating but the forward propulsive` movement forces the eccentric innerwheel around the inner circumference of the outer annulus to a pointhigher than the obstruction, exerting a forward leverage on the outerwheel and oscillating it over the said obstruction. Casters thus-constructed operate more efliciently over traction'surfaces ofirregular formation.

Haying thus described what I claim and desire tov secure by LettersPatent is:

1. A caster comprising a frame having a projection thereon; a shaftprovided on said frame; a wheel eccentrically .and revolubly mounted onsaid shaft and a rlm annulus rotatably mounted around said wheel.

2. A caster comprlsing a frame of suby stantially parallel side wallsand having a socket engagmg projection thereon; a shaft provided onsaidframe between said walls;

' a wheel eccentrically and revolubly mountthis invention,`

. to each other; a Wheel annulus ed on said shaft; and a rim annulusrotatably mounted around said wheel.

3. A caster comprising. a frame of substantially parallel side walls andhaving a socket engaging projection thereon; al shaft provided on saidframe between said walls; a wheel-eccentrically and revolublyA mountedon said shaft; a rim annulus rotatably mounted around said wheel; andanti-friction means interposed between said wheel Y and riln. l

4. A caster comprlslng a frame of substantially parallel side `walls andhaving a' socket enga-ging projection thereon; a shaft provided on saidframe between said walls; a pair of separable shaft engaging memberseccentrically and revolubly mounted on said shaft and concentricallyconnected relative to each other and a wheel annuluS rotatably mountedaround said shaft engagin members. l I

'5. caster comprising a frame of substantially parallel side walls and'having a socket engaging projection thereon; a shaft provided on saidframe between said walls;l a pair of separable shaft engaging'members

